The 2012 rebellion in northern Mali revealed the weaknesses in one of West Africa's most promising democracies, and opened space for the growth of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other extremist groups. The violence was contained only with the intervention (at Mali's request) of thousands of troops from France, Africa and U.N. member states.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, elected amid this crisis, signed an accord with northern separatists in June-the third such peace deal Mali has attempted since 1995. No such agreement has yet brought economic or political changes that might underpin a sustained peace. In recent weeks, some clashes have continued, and factions among the signatories on both sides have argued over the deal's acceptability.

At USIP, President Keïta will discuss the effort to implement the peace deal, U.S. assistance to Mali, and the continued threats of violent extremism in his country and across the Sahel region. His appearance is co-sponsored by the Sahel Strategy Forum, which is convened by the National Endowment for Democracy and The Bridges Institute.